History

Caribbean Partners for Educational Progress began in 2010 as a USAID funded initiative under the Knowledge Driven Microenterprise Development (KDMD) Project known as Jamaica Partners for Educational Progress. In 2009, USAID/Jamaica, championed the idea of the community of practice within the basic education sector to maximise on the efforts of stakeholders by capturing and promulgating good education practices.

In June 2010, Jamaica Partners for Educational Progress greeted prospective members from across the education sector in its first in-person event. At this event, stakeholders shared in the development of the CoP's vision, goals, and services which was incorporated into the design of the CoP's website, jamaica.kdid.org. By the end of that year, the Jamaica Partners for Educational Progress had successfully conducted its first online discussion and formally was launched as a Community of Practice in Basic Education.

Over the next 2 years, the membership steadily grew and they were engaged in several online discussions on issues such as parental involvement in education, early literacy, an e-query on literacy and at-risk youth, an e-consultation on the then proposed Alternate Secondary Transitional Education Policy and received EduFocus Bulletins that feature local success stories. It connected a wide spectrum of stakeholders in Jamaica to engage in constructive discussions, exchange innovative solutions, learn from others' experiences, and share knowledge and resources to improve basic education in the country.

As a premier institution for education research and training in the Caribbean, the School of Education at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona was approached by the CoP Facilitator to consider managing the CoP post project completion. By late 2012, the CoP began the transition to its new home within the School of Education at the UWI, Mona campus and was renamed Caribbean Partners for Educational Progress. Its scope broadened beyond a focus on basic education to include other issues that affect students at all levels of the education system. USAID will continue to support the CoP through the transition until spring 2013.